US eyeing shortened visa durations for students, journalists
The Department of Homeland Security said it is seeking to tighten rules on F visas for international students, J visas for visitors allowed to participate in exchange programmes and I visas for members of the media.
WASHINGTON - The United States (US) is aiming to shorten the duration of its visas for foreign students and journalists, a government proposal showed Wednesday, as President Donald Trump's administration widens its efforts to crack down on illegal immigration across the country.
According to Kyodo News Agency, the Department of Homeland Security said it is seeking to tighten rules on F visas for international students, J visas for visitors allowed to participate in exchange programmes and I visas for members of the media.
Under the plan, holders of the student and exchange visas would be restricted to a stay of up to four years, while journalist visas would not exceed 240 days, with Chinese nationals in the category limited to only 90 days on US soil.
The department said the US has for too long allowed foreign students and other visa holders to remain in the country "virtually indefinitely," asserting such a practice is "posing safety risks, costing untold amount of taxpayer dollars and disadvantaging US citizens."
"This new proposed rule would end that abuse once and for all by limiting the amount of time certain visa holders are allowed to remain in the US, easing the burden on the federal government to properly oversee foreign students and their history," it said in a statement.
In the final months of Trump's first term in 2020, the US sought similar changes. But the initial proposal, which met strong opposition from higher education and many other institutions, was withdrawn the following year by the administration of then President Joe Biden.
The department said it will accept public comments on the latest proposal for 30 days.
Holders of the student, exchange and journalist visas would be able to apply for extensions to their legal status beyond the initial period.
In addition to claiming the changes are necessary to improve public safety, the department said in the proposed rule that its ability to "monitor and oversee" such nonimmigrants is facing a challenge due to an increase in the number of F, J and I visa holders.
In 2023, there were more than 1.6 million admissions to US with F visa status, up from 260,000 in the 1980-81 school year, according to the proposal.
It said 32,470 I visa holders entered the country in 2023, compared with 16,753 in 1985. - BERNAMA-KYODO
Download Sinar Daily application.Click Here!
